Fellow Republican Jeb Bush said condemnation was not enough, and called for party grandees to oust Mr King.

Mr King has since defended his remarks, saying they were mischaracterised.

Speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives on Friday, he said he regretted “the heartburn that has poured forth” as a result of his interview.

“I want to make one thing abundantly clear: I reject those labels and the evil ideology that they define.”

“As I told the New York Times, it’s not about race, it’s never been about race,” he continued.

“Under any fair political definition, I am simply a nationalist.”

But other Republicans were unconvinced by Mr King’s explanation.

“Republican leaders must actively support a worthy primary opponent to defeat King, because he won’t have the decency to resign,” Mr Bush, a former Florida governor and one-time presidential hopeful, tweeted.

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